Bible School Highlights

This past week Samuel, Hannah and I attended a  week long Bible School in Pennsylvania. (Yes I know, it's a crazy long waze away)! Harmony Bible School is very conservative, they consider themselves Anabaptist - although not belonging to a particular denomination; Mennonite, Amish, Brethren etc. It's one place where our family would most certainly not be considered Amish. (Long story short, there's a lady here in Chickasaw who every time she sees one of us asks how our Amish family is doing - but then she also calls us the Michael Landon family...) ...Anyway, there were many great messages, we connected with Godly friends, and although it did not stay on the ground, we saw some snow!!!

One sermon that struck me in particular was given Wednesday night by Carl Schwartzentruber. He pointed out that God is love, and the opposite of love is selfishness. He said that every ambition we have, every action we take is driven by one or the other. This got me to thinking; what is it that motivates me the most? Do my dreams and goals come from a deep love for God and others - or does selfish ambition permeate even my best intentions? I don't necessarily know the answer to that.

So as I am looking through my notes, trying to muddle through the bad penmanship and spelling, these are some questions and various quotes that stood out to me from last week...

#1. Am I chasing dreams or desires that have no eternal impact?

#2. Regeneration is from the inside out, generation something we try act out ourselves. Am I grounded as a Christian in my heart, or do I simply know how to behave as one? (Yes I know know for sure that I'm saved - still it's a good question to ask.)

#3. Unless your treasure is right, your spirit will not be shaped. Where is my treasure?

#4. Save you live with clarity, you will be known by the lowest common denominator around you.

#5. Your deeds will be remembered; not your plans.

#6. Is whatever I am doing helping, or hindering me from winning the prize? Throw aside every weight.

#7. Consistency is of greater value than a few great acts.

#8. At the end of the day, the deeds you have done are either steady, or they waiver and have no impact.

#9. Grace is the power to do what is right.

#10. Light and darkness are incompatible, and darkness has no power over light!

There was plenty more, but to be quite honest - some of the things I wrote down, I have no idea the thought process behind the scrawling!

Dear Jesus, thank- you for this past week. I ask that you would guide my steps, and keep my heart close to Yours. Love your daughter - Jessica

My prayer group. Some great friends I made while up there! (I'm back row, second from left.)